Logging-machine.



No. 887,869. PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

E.' D. SWAN.

LOGGING MACHINE.

AlPLIOATION FILED AUG.27.1904. RENEWED 00T. 9, 1907.

4 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

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B. D. SWAN.

LOG-GING MACHINE.

PATENTED MAY 19, 1900I APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27. 1904. BENEWED 00T. 9, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.THE NuRms PETERS co., wAsHlNaraN, fr;4 c.

No. 887,869. v

E. D. SWAN.

LOGGING MACHINE.-

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 27. `1904. RENBWED 00T. 9, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

PATENTED MAY 19, 190s.

v No. 887,869.

E. D. SWAN.

LOGGING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.27.1904. RBNEWED 00T. 9, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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the machine, the derrick frame,

ERVIN D. SWAN, OF PINETOWN, NORTH GA FACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,

ROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO LIDGERWOOD MANU- N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LOGG-ING-MACHINE Application filed August 27, 1904, Serial No. 222,437.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19,' 1908.

Renewed October 9, 1907. Serial No. 396,661.

T 0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ERVIN D'. SWAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pinetown, in the county of Beaufort and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Logging-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in logging machines, comprehending particularly an improved skidder and loader adapted for the handling of logs, or the like.

The main object of the present invention resides in the production of simple and effective mechanism to readily accomplish the various adjustments essential in a machine of the character.

Another object of the invention is to arrange all of said adjusting mechanisms so that they may be readily controlled by a single operator.

The invention, broadly stated, consists in a body supported upon vertically adjustable legs, and in mechanism arranged for the simultaneous or individual adjustment of the legs in either direction, whereby the body may be properly positioned without regard to the nature of the supporting ground, and alsov properly arranged with relation to the particular work in hand.

The invention, in the preferred embodiment of detail, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved logging machine, illustrating particularly the mechanism for adjusting the legs, the derrick frame and boom being omitted. FiO. 2 is a side elevation of the forward portion of deck frame and boom being shown in place. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine, looking toward the front end. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the rear portion of the machine. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, illustrating particularly they friction spool and the means for the lateral adjustment thereof. Fig. 6 is a detail in elevation showing the means for the lateral adjustment of the gear spools.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, my improved logging machine comprises a body 1, preferably of skeleton form and having side bars and end bars 2 of channel iron. The side bars are joined near their ends by transverse frame bars 3, arranged in pairs near each end of the machine, and designed to support the derrick frame and the leg adjusting mechanism, as hereinafter described. Longitudinal brace bars 4, arranged in parallel relation and about centrally of the body 1, are connected at their respective ends to the innermost transverse bars 3, as shown. The derrick frame 5, which may be of any conventional form, is supported by the transverse bars 3 at the forward end Aof the machine. A deck or top derrick frame 6 is supported upon the derrick frame.

The parts just described constitute the frame of the machine, and are preferably constructed of channel iron, or the like, it being understood that the parts are suitably braced and bolted together in any preferred or usual manner.

To each side frame bar 2, near each end thereof is secured a cuff-casting 7, vertically arranged to receive one of the body legs 8. The opening through the casting is preferably of angular form, as at 9, Fig. 1, the leg 8 being correspondingly shaped to snugly fit the casting whereby to prevent independent turning of the leg. The leg is of hollow structure, carrying the usual caps 10 and rigidly supporting within the body a vertically arranged screw-rod 11. Revolubly mounted within each leg, and encircling the screw rod therein, is what I term a combined gear and nut 12, the nut portion 13 of which is arranged for threaded engagement with the rod, while the gear portion 14 thereof is fixed to the upper end of the nut portion and arranged to be engaged by mechanism to be described.

Arranged transversely and centrally of the body 1 is a power shaft 15, supported at its ends in suitable bearings fixed to the longitudinal brace 'bars 4. Near one end the shaft 1 5 is provided with a sprocket wheel 16, designed to be driven by a sprocket chain leading from a suitable source of power (not shown), while the opposite end of the shaft 15 carries a bevel gear 17.

Main shafts 18 and 19 extend in opposite directions from the power shaft 15, leading respectively toward the front and rear of the machine. The end of each of these shafts adjacent the power shaft is provided with a bevel gear 20, arranged to mesh with gear 17 while the outer end of each of said shafts is provided with an endwise movable friction spool 21, which spools under a suitable manipulation of the parts, are designed to operate the mechanism for vertically adjusting the legs. It is to be understood that this mechanism is duplicated at each end of the machine, and hence a detail description of but one end will be given.

Two shafts 22 are supported in bearings fixed to the transverse frame bars 3, these shafts being arranged in transverse alinement, with their contiguous ends adjacent the spool 21, and their opposite ends adjacent the respective legs at one end of the machine. The ends of shafts 22 nearest the spool are each provided with bevel friction gears 23, and the ends of the spool 21 are each provided with a similar bevel friction gear 24. The arrangement at this point is such that the gears 23 are normally maintained between the operative faces of the spool gears 24, but out of contact therewith, as seen in Fig. 1. The opposite or remote ends of the shafts 22 are provided with bevel gears 25, arranged to mesh with the gear portion 14 of the combined nut and gear 12. From this construction it will be evident that revolution of any of the shafts 22 will revolve the combined nut and gear, associated therewith and through the connection of the latter with the screw rod 11, elevate or depress the coacting leg with relation to the body 1.

The spools 21, as before stated, are splined upon their respective shafts, as at 26, to permit independent longitudinal movement of the spools without independent rotation. A collar 27 encircles the body portion of each spool, and is provided with an upwardly projecting arm 28, secured at its upper end to a longitudinally movable rod 29 supported in bearings fixed to the transverse frame bars 3. The ends of said bars 29 are connected to levers 30 pivotally supported upon one of the frame bars 3, the free end of said lever 30 at the forward end of the machine being connected by a link 31 to a hand lever 32, while the lever 30 at the rear end of the machine is connected by rod 33 to a lever 34. The rod 33 is of such length as to position lever 34 adjacent lever 32, to permit simultaneous control by a single operator.

The friction gears 24 of the spools are arranged for operative engagement with opposite sides of the gears 23, so that either of said gears 24 may be brought into engagement with the gears 23, whereby to revolve the latter and through the shafts 22 elevate or depress the legs. lt is at once evident from the construction and arran ement described that movement of the spoo in one direction will operate to drive shafts 22 in a determinate direction, while the reverse movement of the spool will brin the friction gear 24 on the opposite end of t e spool into engagement with the opposite side of the gears 23, hence revolving shafts 22 in a reverse direction. Provision is thus made for elevating or depressing the legs from a continuously driven main shaft, by moving 'one or the other of the gears 24 of the spool into engagement with the gears 23 of the shafts 22.

lt is understood that the shafts 18 and 19 are continuously driven from the main shaft 15, as before described, and that the spools 21 are shifted longitudinally of the shafts 18 and 19 through the medium of hand levers 32 and 34, to cause one or the other of the spool gears 24 to simultaneously engage the gears 23 and operate the shafts 22.

The construction described is adapted particularly for the simultaneous adjustment of both the forwardlegs and both the rear legs, but it is evident that various situations might arisein which it would be desirable to utilize the mechanism described for the adjustment of each leg independently. l have provided for this operation of parts, by mounting the forward ends of the main shafts carrying the spools for lateral adjustment, whereby the spools are moved toward one of the gears 23 and away from the other, so that the endwise movement of the spools to drive the shaft 22 in the desired direction will bring the spool gear into operative engagementwith but one of the gears 23. The means for this purpose is particularly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein it will be seen that the forward end of the shaft 18 is mounted eccentrically in bearing disks 35, revolubly mounted in bearing 36. The bearing disks 35 are arranged for simultaneous operation through the medium of a shaft 37 journaled beneath the disks and carrying crank rods 39/. Rods 38 connect disks 35 with the rods 38, the upper end of the rod 38 having an arm 39, secured at its free end to a bell crank lever 40, the free end of which lever is connected to a lever 41, arranged adjacent the levers 33 and 34. The spool 21 mounted on shaft 19 at the rear end of the machine is provided with a similar spool adjusting means, the lever 40 of which is connected to a rod 42, projecting forward and secured to a lever 43 arranged adjacent lever 41. By movement of either lever 41 or 43, the bearing disks 35 are partially revolved in their bearings, and through the eccentric mounting of the shafts 18 and 19, the latter are moved laterally, the direction of such movement being controlled by the direction of revolution of the bearing disks 35, as will be evident. The forward end of shaft 18 is provided with a bevel gear 44 arranged to mesh with a gear 45 carried on the lower end of a vertical shaft 46, the upper end of which is provided with a gear 47 coperating with and driving horizontally alined shafts 48 through the medium of gear 49. The gears 49 are preferably connected to the shafts 48 by clutches 50, controlled by hand levers 5l, through the operation of which either or both shafts may be connected to or disconnected from the shaft 46. The shafts 48 are mpunted in suitable bearings fixed to the derrick frame and carry worms 52 arranged to engage worm gears 53 fixed on the forward end of drums 54 revolublysuported in the derrick frame.

From the above description it will be understood that the shafts 4S are arranged in horizontal alinement across one end of the machine, and that the drums 54 extend transversely of the shafts, that is, longitudinally of the machine. Wire ropes 55 are wound about the drums 54, preferably crossing and passing over sheaves 56 mounted near the upper end of the derrick frame to permit the ropes 55 to extend laterally of the machine. These ropes are anchor ropes and are designed to be secured to any desirable anchor, such as a tree or the like and tightened through the operation of the drums to prevent lateral movement of the machine.

The deck frame 6 is rigid with the derrick frame, and supports laterally arranged rope sheaves 57, over which skidding ropes 5S pass, the said ropes passing down and around sheaves 59 journaled at the forward end of the machine near the lower end of the derrick frame, and rearward therefrom to power drums. These ropes are designed to skid the logs to the vicinity of the machine, their movement being controlled from the power drums, as is usual.

The loading boom 60, preferably of channel iron, is journaled at its foot to the body 1, being preferably provided with a roller bearing casting at this point. The free end of the boom is supported by a brace rod 6l pivotally connected to a projection 62 extending forward from the derrick frame and to the free end of the boom. The usual hanging rope sheave 63 is secured to the free end of the boom, while a movably supported vsheave 64 is arranged at the foot of the boom.

. A loading rope 6 5' passing over the sheaves 63 and 64, passes rearward to a suitable power drum. The boom, from its described mounting, is free to swing back and forth across the face of the machine, thus providing for convenient handling of logs within a large radius.

The operation of the machine as a whole will be readily understood from the above description, taken in connection with the drawings.

It will be noted that the various levers for controlling the adjustment of the supporting legs, and for controlling the movement of the drums carrying the anchor ropes, are arranged in a convenient position to be manipulated by single operator.

It is to be understood that, by preference, I arrange the usual quadrant for holding the particular lever in adjusted position, and

provide such quadrant with notches to receive the locking pawls on the lever. rThe notches are arranged with particular regard to the work designed to be effected by the lever, that is, a single notch is arranged centrally of the quadrant, which notch is a neutral point, that is, when the lever is locked in this notch the parts controlled by the lever are in normal or inoperative position. An additional notch is formed in the quadrant on each side of the neutral notch, providing for locking the lever in operative position in both directions, to effect a direct or reverse operation of the parts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

l. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically adjustable in the body, a power shaft, transverse shafts for operating the legs, and means intermediate the power and transverse shafts for operating the latter, said means being adjustable to operate in either direction one or both of said transverse shafts from the power shaft.

2. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically adjustable therein, a transverseshaft operating each leg, a power shaft, a gear spool carried by the power shaft and arranged in operative relation to the ends of the transverse shafts, and means to adjust said spool to operate one of the transverse shafts in different directions without affecting the other.

3. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically adjustable therein, transverse shafts operating the legs, eccentrically mounted bearing disks', power shafts carried by said disks, said power shafts being arranged in operative relation to the ends of the transverse shafts, and means to adjust the disks to throw the power shaft into engagement with either one or both of said transverse shafts.

4. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically adjustable therein, a transverse shaft operating each leg, eccentrically mounted bearing disks, power shafts carried by said disks, gear spools carried by the power shafts and arranged in operative relation to the ends of the transverse shafts,vand means to adjust the disks to throw the spools into operative engagement with one or both of said transverse shafts.

5. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically adjustable therein, transverse shafts operating the legs, eccentrically mounted bearing disks, power shafts carried by said disks, gear spools adjustably mounted on said power shafts, 4and means to adjust the disks.

6. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically adjustable therein, transverse shafts operating the legs, an eccentrically mounted bearing disk, a power shaft carried by said disk, a gear spool carried by the power shaft, a crank rod having connection with said disk, and means to operate the crank rod to adjust the power shaft.

7. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically adjustable in the body, a continuously driven power shaft, transverse shafts for operating the legs, and a single set of gearing intermediate the power and transverse shafts for operating the latter, said gearing being adjustable to vary its action to operate either one or both of said `transverse shafts from the power shaft.

8. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically adjustable in the body, a contmuously driven power shaft, transverser shafts for operating the legs, and a single set of gearing intermediate the power shaft and transverse shafts for operating the latter, said gearing being manually adjustable to vary its action to operate either one or both of said transverse shafts from the power shaft.

9. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically movable in the body, screw rods carried by the legs, shafts, means operatively connecting the shafts and rods, a continuously driven power shaft, a gear spool carried by said shaft and provided with end gears, and means to adjust said spool to engage said shafts; f

10. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically movable in the body, screw rods carried by the legs, transverse shafts supported by the body, means operatively connecting said shafts and the screw rods, a continuously driven power shaft, a gear spool longitudinally movable on said power shaft, said spool being provided with a gear at each end, and means to adjust the spool to move either of its gears into operative relation with the transverse shafts.

11. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically adjustable therein, a continuously driven power shaft, a transverse shaft for operating each leg, gearing between the contiguous ends of the power and transverse shafts, and means to adjust said gearing to throw into operation one or the other of the transverse shafts.

12. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically adjustable therein, a transverse shaft operating each leg, a continuously driven power shaft, a gear spool carried by the power shaft and arranged in operative relation to the ends of the transverse shafts, and` means to adjust said spool to operate one of the transverse shafts without affecting the other.

13.' A logging machine comprising a body, legs veritcally adjustable therein, transverse shafts for operating the legs, a continuously driven power shaft, a gear spool carried by the shaft and normally out of engagement with the transverse shafts, means for moving the gear spool intoI engagement with the transverse shafts, and means for adjusting the gear spool laterally.

14. A logging machine comprising a body, legs vertically adjustable therein, a screw rod mounted in each leg, a nut carrying a gear revolubly supported within the leg and en circling the screw rod, a continuously driven power shaft, a gear spool carrying a gear at each end mounted on the power shaft, transverse shafts carrying a gear at one end to engage the gears on the screw rods, the contiguous ends of said transverse shafts being arranged' for engagement with the spool gears.

15. A logging machine comprising a body, legs supporting the body, a continuously driven main shaft, means operated by said shaft for adjusting the legs, anchor-rope drums supported by the body, and means operated by the main shaft for operating said drums.

16. A logging machine comprising a body, legs supporting the body, a continuously driven main shaft for adjusting said legs, drums supported by the body, a vertical shaft driven by the main shaft, and means operated by the vertical shaft for driving the drums.

17. A logging machine comprising a body, legs supporting the body, a continuously driven main shaft for adjusting the legs, drums supported by the body, a vertical shaft driven by the main shaft, and means operated by the vertical shaft for driving the drum, said means being adapted for manual control without stopping the vertical shaft.

18. A logging machine comprising a body, legs supporting the body, a continuously driven main shaft for adjusting the legs, drums supported by the body, a vertical shaft geared to the main shaft, horizontal shafts connected to the drums, and clutch mechanism intermediate the vertical shaft and horizontal shafts.

19. A logging machine comprising a body, legs supporting the body, a continuously drivenV- main shaft for adjusting the legs, drums supported bythe body, a gear on each of said drums, vertical shaft geared to the main shaft, horizontal shafts having worms to mesh with the drum gears, and manually controlled clutch mechanism intermediate the vertical shaft and horizontal shafts.

20. 1n a logging machine, a body, legs supporting the body, a transverse power shaft mounted in the body, main shafts projecting in opposite directions from and driven by the power shaft, each of said main shafts carrying a spool gear, and means intermediate said spool gears and legs to adjust the latter in the operation of the main shafts.

21. In a logging machine, a body, legs supporting the body, a transverse j ower shaft mounted in the body, main sha ts arranged in longitudinal alinement and driven by the power shaft, a spool gear adjustably mounted on each main shaft, and means connecting said spool gears and legs to adjust the latter in the operation of the main shafts.

22. In a logging machine, a body, opposite pairs of legs for supporting the body, controlling devices normally operative for raising and lowering each pair of legs, and means for governing said controlling devices from a common point for adjusting the legs of each pair or of both pairs singly or in unison.

23. In a logging machine, a body, pairs of legs at opposite ends of the body, a power device, actuating gearing for each pair of legs adapted to be set in motion by said power device, means controllinov said actuating gearing for adjusting the legs of both pairs separately or together, and further means for controlling the actuating gearin for adjusting the legs of each pair singy or in unison.

24. In a logging machine, a body, a pair of supporting legs for the body, an operating shaft in gear with each leg, said shafts carrygear elements, a power shaft, gears movab e in unison on said shaft for connecting the same with the gears on the operating shaft to drive said shafts simultaneously in one direction or the other, and means for shifting the power shaft to cause the gear thereon to be brought into engagement with a gear on one or the other of the operating shafts. v

25. In a logging machinea body, pairs of legs at o posite ends of the body, operating means w iereby the legs may be inde endently or simultaneously controlled, an governing means for controlling the operating means from a common point, so that the operator from a certain osition may inde endently or associativefy control the a justment of one or both pairs of legs.

26. In a logging machine, pairs of ad'ustable supportin@V legs at opposite ends of the body, sets of devices at each end, whereby the legs of each pair may be independently or simultaneously adjusted, common operating means for said sets of devices, means for throwing the operating means into and out of connection therewith, and means for controlling the aforesaid means from a common point to enable the legs of the two pairs to be simultaneously adjusted, as desired.

27. In a logging machine, a body, a pair of supporting legs for the body, an operating device for raising and lowering each leg, driving means, a single set of gearing for operating both operating devices from the driving means, means for adjusting said gearing to throw one or both of said operating devices into action, and means for reversing the direction of motion of said gearing without reversing the direction of motion of the driving means.

28. In a logging machine, a body, a pair of supporting legs for the body, an operating device for raising and lowering each leg, driving means, a single set of gearing for operating both o erating devices from the driving means, an means for adjusting said gearing to throw both or one of said operating devices into action.

29. In a logging machine, the combination of a body, legs at opposite sides and ends of the body, sets of transverse shafts and actuating connections for Qoperating the legs to raise and lower the body, longitudinal main shafts, means for drivin@ said main shafts, sets of gearing between the contiguous ends of the transverse shafts and the respective main shafts, and means for adjusting said sets of gearin for operating each pair of transverse sha ts sing y or together and for controlling both sets of gearing to operate all or any desired number of the transverse shafts.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERVIN D. SWAN.

Witnesses:

HAMPTON SPRUILL, S. T. NIoHoLsoN. 

